Prince Harry’s lawsuit against the British government regarding the removal of his police protection team has cost taxpayers almost $650,000, with a potential final cost exceeding £1 million. While the public has footed most of the bill so far, if Harry loses his appeal, he may have to cover a significant portion of the costs himself, on top of his own legal expenses. Mark Stephens, of UK law firm Howard Kennedy, indicated that Harry’s total costs could surpass a million pounds, as this particular case does not fall under the ‘no win, no fee’ arrangement typically used by the prince’s legal team.
The legal process going forward involves the Court of Appeal deciding whether to grant Harry permission to appeal, at an estimated cost of £25,000 if he loses. If he is granted permission but ultimately unsuccessful after a full hearing, the costs could escalate to around £100,000. Winning the appeal would shift the financial burden from Harry to the British taxpayers, forcing the government to reconsider their decision to strip him of his police protection team. However, there is a possibility that they may reach the same conclusion using a different process, even if instructed to give Harry a better opportunity to present his case.
In addition to his lawsuit against the British government, Prince Harry is also involved in a libel case against The Mail on Sunday, which he has since dropped. The estimated legal bill for this case is around £750,000, bringing the total potential costs for the prince to over $2 million. In comparison, he was successful in a lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers for historic phone hacking allegations, receiving just over £140,000 in damages. Despite some settlements for remaining claims and costs, any net gain from this case is unlikely to offset the costs incurred in the other two legal battles.
Given the substantial financial stakes involved, Prince Harry has compelling reasons to hope for a positive outcome in his appeal against the government’s decision to remove his police protection team. This case, along with his previous legal entanglements, highlights the complexities and costs associated with high-profile lawsuits. Newsweek remains dedicated to challenging conventional wisdom and seeking common ground on important issues, including those involving the royal family. For further updates and insights on this story and other royal developments, connect with Newsweek’s chief royal correspondent, Jack Royston, on social media platforms and the publication’s dedicated coverage of The Royals. For any questions or inquiries about the British royal family, reach out to the experienced royal correspondents at [email protected].
